I have been wrestling with this image for some time. At times my art direction fails me, like when I choose a design that really is too small for an ACEO, still I did my best and now it is time to relax and have a beer.

Halloween

A few more weeks and it will be the end of British Summertime and as for every October the clocks go back an hour. The nights draw in sooner, curtains are drawn and fires lit. A few days later it is Halloween.

For us Brits it is a struggle to celebrate Halloween. Under some duress parents attend small children knocking on doors for sweets and treats, and pensioners worry about strangers coming to their door and put up signs to ward them away. No one really knows who is up for the festival and who is not.

The Americans however as we know just love Halloween. Everyone gets in the spirit (apologies for the pun) and parties. It is a shame that the tradition did not capture our imaginations here in the UK and instead we are bothered by the commercial aspect which has now given us that cynical edge.

Celtic New Year

The end of October had been known as the Celtic New Year and the belief that there is a short period of time where the “door” to the “other” world is open. I like this idea, the imagination can run wild and all the dressing up makes perfect sense.

ACEO Painting with Mice, Spells and a Broomstick

So in readiness for the celebration of this tradition ACEO cards are painted in preparation for the celebratory collector and particularly for those in the USA who just love to party!

I had an enquiry a few days ago from a lady in California who had been searching for a wedding present for a friend and had come across the painting of mine of the Owl and The Pussy Cat Dancing.

This is the second time for me that this image had been associated with weddings, strangely I had never gave it a thought when I designed the scene last year. It all seems obvious now, after all there is love, a ring and a wedding described in Edward Lear’s narrative.

I came across articles about some couples’ desire to have the poem read out at their weddings but in some instances were concerned about the word “pussy” and the number of times this word would be read out and whether nudges, winks, snorts and sniggers might be set off amongst the wedding party.

Those that went ahead with the Owl and Pussycat “theme” at their wedding would have small pots of honey and quince and gold wrapped chocolate coins and so on amongst the decorations of the day. Perhaps they would drive off in a pea green boat. If you had a real sense of humour I fancy a cat tail from out of the wedding dress and maybe a few feathers for the groom would not go amiss!

And sadly as does happen with some enquiries even though they appear to be a dead cert, the lady interested in my painting backed out even though I kept her informed daily of the making of a mount, sorting out packing and postage costs and so on. Apparently the recipient of the gift had changed her mind, and she signed off the email by thanking me for understanding 😦

Oh, and then suddenly I found out a print had sold off Etsy! So there you go that teaches me a lesson about the way I market my work in terms of originals and prints!